Rosa hybrida shrub named &#39;AUSquirk&#34;

ABSTRACT

A variety of rose plant of the shrub class, named ‘AUSquirk’. The ‘AUSquirk’ rose is a plant having rosette-shaped white blooms, very bushy growth, matt green foliage, a long flowering season and being particularly disease resistant.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The current application claims priority to a European Community Plant Variety Application No. 2010/2154, filed Oct. 13, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

CLASSIFICATION

The present invention relates to a new Rosa hybrida shrub.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The new plant has the varietal denomination ‘AUSquirk.’

ORIGIN OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of shrub rose plant named ‘AUSquirk’, which was originated as a sport of the ‘AUStilly’ variety of Rosa hybrida.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of this breeding was to produce a variety of rose with large rosette-shaped white blooms in the English Rose character with a strong Old Rose fragrance that is particularly disease resistant and winter hardy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the features which distinguish the new variety from others presently available and commercial rose cultivars known to the inventor is the following combination of characteristics: rosette-shaped white blooms, very bushy growth, matt green foliage, a long flowering season and being particularly disease resistant.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety by budding as performed outdoors at Bowling Green Lane in Albrighton, Britain shows that the foregoing and other distinguishing characteristics come true to form and are established and transmitted through succeeding asexual propagations. ‘AUSquirk’ may be asexually propagated by budding. The budding successfully occurred on the plant/rootstock Rosa cv. ‘Dr. Huey’ in the United States, and Rosa dumetorum cv. ‘Laxa’ for the observed plants in the UK.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The parent of this sport is ‘AUStilly’. The new rose may be distinguished from its sport parent, by the following combination of characteristics: the new variety is white while the parent is pink.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The closest commercially available cultivar to the new variety is the ‘AUSlevel’ (unpatented variety). The new rose may be distinguished from the ‘AUSlevel’ variety by the following combination of characteristics: the ‘AUSquirk’ has a bloom form that is a rosette shape, whereas in ‘AUSlevel’ it is a deep cup, and petals within the blooms of ‘AUSquirk’ are thinner and more delicate compared with those of ‘AUSlevel’. ‘AUSquirk’ also has a strong old rose fragrance compared with ‘AUSlevel's’ myrrh fragrance. Finally, ‘AUSquirk’ has matt green foliage whereas in ‘AUSlevel’ the foliage is glossy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying photograph illustrates the new variety and shows the flowering thereof from bud to full bloom depicted in color as nearly correct as it is possible to make in a color illustration of the character. Throughout this specification, color references and/or values are based upon the Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society (2001) except where common terms of color definition are employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

In the summer of 2005, on the nursery at David Austin Roses Limited in Albrighton, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom, on plant of the Rosa hybrida cv. ‘AUStilly’ grew a stem bearing one white flower. This flower was removed and propagated using the T-budding method onto a Rosa dumetorum ‘Laxa’ rootstock. The following description is of 1 year-old rose plants of the new variety grown outdoors in Albrighton, Britain in the month of August. Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental, cultural and climatic conditions, as well as differences in conditions of light and soil.

-   Flower characteristics:     -   -   Blooming habit.—Recurrent. The number of blooms per plant             during the growing season is profuse, but there are too many             to count.         -   Bud.—Size: About 2 cm long and 1.5 cm in diameter when the             petals start to unfurl. Form: The bud form is pointed ovoid.             Color: When sepals first divide, the bud color is             grayed-green RHS 194D. When half blown, the upper sides of             the petals are white RHS 155C, and the lower sides of the             petals are white RHS 155C. Calyx: Shape: star-shaped.             Length: 5 cm. Diameter: 5 cm. Sepals: Arrangement: Regular,             opening to a star-shape which then folds right back. Color:             Upper Surface: green RHS 143C. Lower Surface: green RHS 143C             with some red RHS 42C. Length: 2.49 cm. Width: 0.7 cm.             Shape: Lanceolate. Margin: Smooth. Surface texture: Upper             Surface: Hirsute. Lower Surface: Smooth. Number: There are 3             normally appendaged sepals, and 2 unappendaged sepals with             smooth edges. Receptacles: Color: green RHS 143C with red             RHS 42C. Shape: pitcher. Size: medium, about 0.8 cm×0.8 cm.             Surface: Smooth. Peduncle: Length: short, averaging about             1.75 cm. Surface: Smooth. Color: grayed-red RHS 182B.             Strength: Strong.         -   Blooms.—Size: Medium, average open diameter is about 6.5 cm.             Borne: Several together in small clusters of 6 blooms having             flat shape. Stems: Strength: Strong, average length is about             16 cm. Diameter: 4 mm. Form: When first open, bloom is             cupped. Permanence of bloom: all petals curl.         -   Petalage.—Number of petals under normal conditions: 135.             Color: The upper sides of the petals are white RHS 155C. The             reverse sides of the petals are white RHS 155C, and the base             of the petals has white RHS 155C. Variegations: N/A.             Discoloration: the general tonality at the end of the first             day is white RHS 155C, and at the end of the third day is             white 155C. Fragrance: Strong. Character of fragrance: Old             Rose.         -   Petals.—Texture: Smooth. Size: Width: 3.75 cm. Length:             3.14 cm. Surface: Smooth. Shape: Obovate. Margin: Weak             undulation or reflexing. Apex Shape: Basically rounded, but             some are notched and some are cuspidate. Base Shape:             Pointed. Form: Edges slightly quilled. Arrangement:             Imbricated. Petaloids: Number: Few (around 3). Color: white             RHS 155C. Length: 8 mm. Width: 3 mm. Shape: Long and thin.             Margin: Irregular. Persistence: Petals hang on and dry.             Lastingness: On the plant: Fair, about 5 days. As a cut             flower: Not tested.         -   Reproductive parts.—Stamens: Number: 18. Length: 4.7 mm.             Anthers: Length: 0.7 mm. Color: yellow-orange RHS 20A.             Arrangement: tucked in calyx or partly so and some mixed             with petaloids. Filaments: Color: grayed-yellow RHS 160A.             Length: 4 mm. Pollen: Color: yellow-orange RHS 20A. Pistils:             Number: 48. Length: 10.2 mm. Styles: Color: green-yellow RHS             1C. Length: 10 mm. Stigmas: Color: yellow RHS 12B. Length:             0.2 mm. Hips: None Observed. -   Plant characteristics:     -   -   Plant form.—Shrub.         -   Plant growth.—Medium, upright and bushy.         -   Age to maturity.—Two years.         -   Mature plant.—Height: 120 cm. Width: 90 cm.         -   Rootstock.—Rosa cv. ‘Dr. Huey’ in the United States, Rosa             dumetorum cv. ‘Laxa’ for the observed plants in the UK.         -   Foliage.—Number: Leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves is:             variable between 5 and 7 (including terminal leaflet). Size:             Medium, about 14.46 cm long×11.1 cm wide. Quantity: Normal.             Number of leaves per flowering stem is: 6. Color: New             foliage: Upper side: green RHS 137C tinged with grayed-red             RHS 178A. Lower side: green RHS 137C. Old foliage: Upper             side: green RHS 137A. Lower side: green RHS 137C.         -   Leaflets.—Size: About 5.74 cm long×3.36 cm wide. Shape:             Pointed oval. Base Shape: Obtuse. Apex Shape: Acute.             Texture: Leathery. Edge: Serrated. Serrations: Single.             Petiole: Color: yellow-green RHS 146C. Length: 4 cm. Width:             0.2 cm. Surface Texture: Smooth. Petiole Rachis: Color:             yellow-green RHS 146C. Underside: with prickles. Stipules:             Length: 2 cm, smooth. Color: yellow-green RHS 146C with some             red-purple RHS 60B. Auricle: Shape: Sword-shaped. Length:             6 mm. Width: 3 mm. Color: yellow-green RHS 146C with some             red-purple RHS 60B. Vein Color: Same as leaf color. Venation             Pattern: Reticulate.         -   Wood.—New Wood: Color: grayed-red RHS 178A. Bark: Smooth.             Old Wood: Color: yellow-green RHS 146A. Bark: Smooth.         -   Branching habit.—Number: 10. Lateral Branch Dimensions:             Length: 40 cm Width: 4 mm.         -   Stems.—Mature Stem: Length: 62.5 cm. Diameter: 7 mm.             Internode Distance: 6 cm. The above measurements are all             variable, depending on growing conditions in a season. Stem             Pubescence Present: No.         -   Prickles.—Quantity: On main canes from base: Ordinary.             Number per stem length: 20 per 10 cm. On laterals from main             canes: Ordinary. Number per stem length: 15 per 10 cm. Form:             Deep concave. Length: 7 mm. Color when young: grayed-purple             RHS 183B. Color when mature: grayed-orange RHS 175A.         -   Small prickles.—Quantity: Main stalk: Few Number per stem             length: 10 per 20 cm. Laterals: Few Number per stem length:             10 per 20 cm. Color: When young: grayed-purple RHS 183B.             When mature: grayed-orange RHS 175A.         -   Disease resistance.—Mildew: Resistant. Blackspot: Resistant.             Rust: Resistant.         -   Pest resistance.—Not tested.         -   Winter hardiness.—Not tested.         -   Growing conditions.—Normal. 

1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the shrub class suitable for repeat flower production, substantially as herein shown and described. 